Stage construction for theaters



Feb. 27, 1934. G. E. YOUNG STAGE CONSTRUCTION FOR THEATERS Filed June 8, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet l Jive/22 07 FCZEIIZGZYOZW Feb 27, E934. G, E YOUNG $349,232

STAGE CONSTRUCTION FOR THEATERS Filed June 8, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Graemefj 1 Y Feb, 27, 1934. G. E. YOUNG STAGE CONSTRUCTION FOR THEATERS Filed June 8, 1952 4 Sh aets-Sheet 3 llilllllllllxifil.

Feb. 27, 1934., E YOUNG 1,949,232

,HSTAGE CONSTRUCTION FOR THEATERS Filed June 8, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 JFK/612557? Graze/Wall 1 022??? Patented Feb. 27, 1%.34

UNETFED TES Tiiih FFECE 20 Claims.

This invention relates in general to improvements in theater apparatus, and one of the objects of the same is to provide an improved stage construction embodying a platform having arranged.

therein a plurality of rotatable sections or tables and which platform is adapted to be shifted or moved at will with respect to an opening constituting the proscenium arch, whereby either one or the other of the rotatable sections or tables may be placed in the desired position with respect to such arch, and upon which platform and rotatable sections stage settings may be arranged, the entire structure being operable to facilitate change in scene or stage settings.

A further object is to provide improved means for shifting the platform as well as for rotating the rotatable sections.

A further object is to provide in a structure of this character a platform mounted to swing upon a shiftable fulcrum, to position any desired portion of the platform with respect to the proscenium arch, and improved means for shifting the fulcrum, thereby not only producing a compact structure and arrangement but also rendering it possible to permit certain portions of the platform to be swung out of the way and other portions to be swung into position to effect a rapid change of scenes viewed through the arch.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects as will appear, the invention consists in the features of novelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings illustrating this invention and in which Figure l is a view partly in top plan and partly in horizontal section, of a theater stage constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention and a portion of the proscenium arch and showing the parts in one position.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the parts another position.

Figure 3 is a top plan view partly in elevation, partly in section and partly broken away and on an enlarged scale, showing one form of construction of the platform.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional View taken on line 4-4, Figure 1, on an enlarged scale.

Figure 5 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section showing a portion of the supporting means for the platform, the shiftable fulcrum and a means for shifting the fulcrum and the platform.

Figure 6 is a top plan View of a portion of the platform and of the mechanism for effecting a shifting of the platform and rotation of the rotatable supports or tables.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view as taken on line 7-7, Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a detail sectional View taken on line 8-8, Figure 3, on an enlarged scale.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the numeral 10 designates generally the floor of the stage and the numeral 11 the opening in the proscenium arch.

The numeral 12 designates generally a shiftable platform which may be of any desired size and configuration and constructed in any suit able manner, preferably of a latticed or frame construction designated generally by the reference numeral 13 in Figure 3. The platform 12 is of any suitable configuration, but is preferably of a substantially diamond shaped formation having one of the corners removed as indicated at 14, while the opposite corner 15 is preferably employed as a pivot point about which the platform may be swung upon a shiftable fulcrum des ignated generally by the reference numeral 16. This fulcrum 16 is preferably in the form of a caster comprising a roller 17 which is rotatably secured to the platform at the corner 15 for rotation on a horizontal axis in any desired or suitable manner, preferably by means of a flanged member 18 secured to the bottom of the platform and in which member 18 the peripheral rim 19 of the caster member 16 is free to rotate.

The fulcrum is arranged beneath the platform and is adapted to be moved along a guideway 20 which extends across the proscenium arch 11 and the ends of the guideway are curved backwardly as at 21 and extend for any desired distance towards the rear of the stage. The openings in the portions 21 of the runway gradually increase in width to the rear extremities 22 thereof.

Carried also by the platform 12 and at suitable points preferably at the corners 23 thereof, are additional casters 24 of any desired size and configuration which are adapted to travel within the runway or guide and if desired other caster members 25 may be secured to the bottom of the platform 12 to support other portions of the platform and to travel upon the stage floor 10 when the platform is shifted.

The platform is preferably formed by two sections of frusto-conical formation with the sides abutting each other and supported in each of these sections is a rotatable table or support 26, of any suitable diameter so that the peripheries thereof Will be disposed within the confines of 110 the sides of the respective sections of the platform 12. The rotatable supports 26 are supported in any desired or suitable manner but preferably by means of rollers 27 suitably mounted upon the framework 13 of the platform 12, and run in guideways 28 on the bottom of the supports 26.

These supports 26 may be rotated with respect to the platform 12 independently with respect to each other in any desired or suitable manner but preferably by means of a rack 29 individual to and extending therearound and meshing with each of these racks is an operating gear 30 supported in suitable bearings 31 in the platform 12 and which gear 30 is secured to a shaft 32. The upper surface of the rotatable supports 26 are flush with the top of the platform 12 (see particularly Figure 4) and if desired an opening 33, preferably angular in cross section, may be provided through the support at the center thereof. This opening communicates with a recess 34 secured to the bottom of the platform and is angular in cross section so as to permit of an upright being connected with the rotatable support by the insertion of one end of the upright through the opening 33 and into the socket 34.

Each of the shafts 32 telescopes into a shaft section 35 and a key or spline 36 connects the shaft sections 32 and 35 together for simultaneous rotation, but permits of the telescoping and extending movement of one of the shaft sections with respect to the other.

Motion may be imparted to these shafts in any suitable manner but preferably by means of a motor 37 to the shaft of which is connected a gear 38. Mounted upon a suitable support 39 is a slide 40 which may be moved in any suitable manner such as by means of a handle 41. Journaled in the slide 40 are stub shafts 42 on which are respectively secured gear wheels 43 and these shafts 42 are so spaced from each other that the distance between the peripheries of the gears 43 will be greater than the diameter of the gear 38 so that when the slide 40 is moved by the handle 41 in one direction or the other to cause one of the gears 43 to be moved into engagement with the gear 38, the other gear 43 will be moved out of engagement with the gear 38, with the result that the shaft 42 whose gear 43 is in mesh with the gear 38 will be rotated while the other shaft will remain idle.

A universal joint or coupling 44 is provided between the shaft sections 35 and the respective stub shafts 42.

It will therefore be manifest that no matter in what position the platform 10 may be such movement of the platform will not be interfered with by reason of the connection between the driving gears 30 for the rotatable tables or supports 26 and the driving gear 38.

The platform 12 may be moved about its fulcrum 16 or the fulcrum 16 may be shifted in any desired or suitable manner but preferably from the motor 37. To that end there is provided a pair of drums 45 mounted upon suitable supports and driven preferably from the motor 37 through the medium of a worm 46 secured to the motor shaft. This worm 46 meshes with a worm gear 4'7 secured to a shaft 48 for rotation therewith and the worm 46 and gear 48 may be encased within a housing 49.

The drums 45 are preferably mounted to rotate on axes parallel to the axis of the worm gear 47 and are suitably spaced from each other and from the worm gear. Secured to each of the drums 45 is a gear 50 preferably of the bevel type with which gears 51 loosely mounted on the shaft 48, respectively mesh. The gears 51 are each provided with a clutch face 52 and mounted upon the shaft 48 for rotation therewith and for longitudinal movement with respect thereto are clutch members 53 adapted to be moved respectively into and out of engagement with the clutch faces 52 of the gears 51 by means of operating handles 54.

It will be manifest that when the shaft 48 is rotated and when the clutch members 53 are out of engagement with the respective clutch faces 52, the drums 45 will be at rest, but when one of the clutch members 53 is moved into engagement with respect to the clutch face 52, one of the drums 45 will be rotated while the other remains idle, and vice versa.

By means of these clutch members 53, the direction of movement of the platform 12 will be controlled through the medium of a cable 55, one end of which is wound about one of the drums 45. The cable passes over pulleys 56 and extends across the front of the stage as shown more clearly in Figures 2 and 5, and is secured by one end to a yoke 57 in which the axle of the caster wheel 17 is journaled. Another cable 58 is wound by one end upon the drum 45 and passes over suitable pulleys 59 and is secured by the other end to the yoke 1'7.

With this construction it will be manifest that when one of the drums 45 is operating to wind up the cable, the other drum 45 will be loose to pay out its cable, and through the medium of the operation and control of these drums 45, the platform 12 may be swung from the position shown in Figure 1 to the position shown in Figure 2, or to the position shown partially in dotted lines in Figure 1.

This is accomplished by reason of the fact that when the cable (see particularly Figure 1) is wound upon the drum 45, the cable 58 will be paid out from the other drum and the platform will move from the position shown in full lines in Figure 1 to the position shown partially in dotted lines in Figure 1. This is accomplished by reason of the fact that the fulcrum formed by the caster 1'? will be shifted from the position shown at the left in Figure 1 to the position shown at the right in Figure 1, by reason of the fact that the caster 1'? will be caused to travel in the guideway 20 until the section of the platform 12 which is in position in front of the proscenium arch 11 will be moved to the dotted line position shown in Figure 1. At the same time the sup porting casters 24 will travel in the guideways 21 and the casters 25 will travel upon the floor 10 of the stage. Likewise, when the other drum 45 is connected to the motor and the first recited drum is disconnected with respect thereto the platform will be shifted back to the full line position shown in Figure 1.

During these shifting movements of the platform it will be manifest that by reason of the universal or knuckle joint 44 between the shaft sections 35 and the stub shafts 42, together with the telescoping sections 42 of the shafts (see particularly Figure 2) this shifting movement of the platform will not be interfered with. At the same time the revolving tables or supports 26 will be operatively and respectively connected to the it will be possible to arrange stage settings on :either one ofthe sections of the platform 12 or .therotatingsupports 26 while the other is inpositionin front of the proscenium arch. By a quick shifting movement of the platform 12, it

will bemanifest that the scenes maybe quickly changed.

If desired, the platform 12 may be moved to the position shown in Figure 2, at which time both of the rotating supports or tables 26 will be exposed through the proscenium arch. In Old8lt0ip10- videa means for filling in the space between the .front edge of the platform and the walls of the arch, members 60 may be provided which may be of any desired shape and configuration to fit the space into which they are to be inserted. These members 60, when the parts are in the position shown in Figure 1, maybe moved out of the way by sliding them back in any suitable manner, and when the parts are moved to the position shown in Figure 2, they may be movedforwardly in any suitable manner so as to fill in the space between the edge of theplatform l2 and the rear of the proscenium arch.

When in the position shown in Figure 1, only one of the rotatable tables 26will be visible, but when moved into the position shown in Figure 2, both of the rotatable tables or supports will be visible. When in the latter position, if desired, walls 61 may be positioned seats to form supports for the scenes, or they may be scenes themselves.

Obviously, the supporting rollers 25 may be of any desired construction, either in the form of casters or any other suitable construction which will facilitate the shifting or swinging of the platform 12.

With this construction it will be manifest that a shiftable fulcrum will permit of a ready manipulation of the platform and the platform may be placed in any desired position, and furthermore with this construction a compact arrangement will be presented which will be of a simple construction and readily manipulated.

While the preferred form of the invention has been herein shown and described, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, with in the scope of the claims, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a theatrical stage structure, a platform of a substantial length with respect to its width mounted to oscillate about a fulcrum on an upright pivot, intermediate the ends of the platform, and means for oscillating the platform about said fulcrum and in a substantially horizontal plane.

2. In a theatrical stage structure, a platform of a substantial length with respect to its width mounted to oscillate about a fulcrum on an upright pivot intermediate the ends of the platform, means for oscillating the platform about said fulcrum and in a substantially horizontal plane, and means for shifting the fulcrum in a substantially horizontal plane.

3. In a theatrical stage structure, a platform of substantial length with respect to its width, a fulcrum for the platform arranged intermediate the ends thereof, means for shifting said fulcrum in a substantially horizontal plane, and means operating automatically to oscillate the platform about said fulcrum on an upright pivot as the fulcrum is shifted.

4. In a theatrical stage structure, a platform .ofasubstantial length with respect to its width mounted to oscillate about a fulcrum intermediate the ends thereof, means for oscillating the platform-about said fulcrum, a rotatable table carried by the platform, and means for rotating the table with respect to the platform in any position of thelatter.

5. In a theatrical stage structure, a platform .of a substantial length with respect to its width mounted to oscillate about a fulcrum intermediate the ends thereof, means for oscillating the platform about said fulcrum, a plurality of rotatable tables carried by the platform and disposed in the same horizontal plane, and means individual to the tables for rotating them in any position of the platform.

6. In a theatrical stage construction, a platform, a fulcrum intermediate the extremities of theplatform and about which fulcrum the platform is oscillatable on an upright pivot, and

means for oscillating the platform about said fulcrum to interchangeably position different portions of the platform in view with respect to the proscenium arch of a theatre.

I. In a theatrical stage construction, a platform, a fulcrum intermediate the extremities of the platform and about which fulcrum the platform is oscillatable on an upright pivot, means for oscillating the platform about said fulcrum, and means for shifting the fulcrum to interchangeably position different portions of the platform in view with respect to the proscenium arch of a theatre.

8. In a theatrical stage construction, a platform, a fulcrum intermediate the extremities of the platform and about which fulcrum the platform is oscillatable on an upright pivot, means for oscillating the platform about said fulcrum to interchangeably position different portions of the platform in view with respect to the proscenium arch of a theatre and one or more rotatable tables or supports mounted upon the platform for movement therewith and rotation with respect thereto.

9. In a theatrical stage construction, a platform, a fulcrum intermediate the extremities of the platform and about which fulcrum the platform is oscillatable on an upright pivot, means for oscillating the platform about said fulcrum to interchangeably position different portions of the platform in view with respect to the proscenium arch of a theatre, one or more rotatable tables or supports mounted upon the platform for movement therewith and rotation with respect thereto, and means for rotating said table with respect to the platform in any position of the latter.

10. In a theatrical stage structure, a platform, a fulcrum intermediate the extremities of the platform and about which the platform is oscillatable on an upright axis, means for oscillating the platform and for shifting said fulcrum, guideways, and means carried by the platform and movable in the guideways and operating to swing the platform about said fulcrum during the shifting of the latter.

11. In a theatrical stage structure, a platform, a fulcrum intermediate the extremities of the platform and about which the platform is oscillatable on an upright axis, means for oscillating the platform and for shifting said fulcrum, guideways, means carried by the platform and movable in the guideways and operating to oscillate the platform about said fulcrum during the shifting of the latter, and one or more tables carried by the platform substantially flush with the top of the platform, said tables being movable with and rotatable with respect to the platform.

12. In a theatrical stage construction, a platform of substantial length, a fulcrum intermediate the ends of and fixed with respect to the platform, means for bodily shifting the platform in a substantially horizontal plane, the said means also operating to bodily shift the said fulcrum, and means for oscillating the platform about said fulcrum during the bodily shifting of the fulcrum.

13. In a theatrical stage construction, a. platform of substantial length, a fulcrum intermediate the ends of and fixed with respect to the platform, means for bodily shifting the platform in a substantially horizontal plane, the said means also operating to bodily shift the said fulcrum, means for oscillating the platform about said fulcrum during the bodily shifting of the fulcrum, and a revolvable table carried with the platform, said table being substantially fiush with the top of the platform.

14. In a theatrical stage construction, a platform of substantial length, a fulcrum intermediate the ends of and fixed with respect to the platform, means for bodily shifting the platform in a substantially horizontal plane. the said means also operating to bodily shift the said fulcrum, means for oscillating the platform about said fulcrum during the bodily shifting of the fulcrum, a revolvable table carried with the platform, said table being substantially flush with the top of the platform, and means for rotating said table with respect to the platform, at will and in any position of the said platform.

15. In a theatrical stage construction, a platform of substantial length, a fulcrum intermediate the ends of and fixed with respect to the platform, means for bodily shifting the platform in a substantially horizontal plane, the said means also operating to bodily shift the said fulcrum, means for oscillating the platform about said fulcrum during the bodily shifting of the fulcrum, and means for guiding the fulcrum in its shifting movement.

16. In a theatrical stage construction, a platform of substantial length, a fulcrum intermediate the ends of and fixed with respect to the platform, means for bodily shifting the platform in a substantially horizontal plane, the said means also operating to bodily shift the said fulcrum, means for oscillating the platform about said fulcrum during the bodily shifting of the fulcrum, and a guideway extending across the stage and along which guideway the said fulcrum is movable back and forth during its shifting movements.

17. In a theatrical stage structure, a platform, a fulcrum fixed with respect to the platform intermediate the ends thereof and about which the platform is adapted to oscillate on an upright pivot, and a supplemental platform adapted to be positioned with respect to the first said platform when the latter has been moved into a predetermined position.

18. In a theatrical stage structure, a platform, a fulcrum fixedwith respect to the platform intermediate the ends thereof and about which the platform is adapted to oscillate on an upright pivot, and. independent supplemental platforms adapted to be positioned with respect to the first said platform when the latter has been moved into a predetermined position, the top of all of said platforms being substantially flush.

19. In a theatrical stage structure, a platform, a fulcrum fixed with respect to the platform intermediate the ends thereof and about which the platform is adapted to oscillate on an upright pivot, a plurality of supports mounted upon and rotatable with respect to said platform, and supplemental platforms adapted to be positioned with respect to the first said platform when the latter has been moved into a predetermined position. 7

20. In a theatrical stage construction the combination with the proscenium arch, a bodily movable platform, a table mounted upon the platform for bodily movement therewith and for rotatable movement about an upright pivot with respect to the platform, and means mounting said platform to oscillate about an upright pivot during its bodily movement, whereby the said table will be moved into position to be viewed through the said arch and out of such position.

GRAEME E. YOUNG. 

